Trolley-pole controller.



PATLNTLD AUG. so., 1904.

ML o. vLoLsoN. TROLLEY POLL ooNTLoLLLL.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 23. 1903'.

2 SHEETS-SHEET. 1.

N0 MODEL.

PATENTED AUG. 30, 1904.

M. O. DOLSON.

TROLLEY POLE CONTROLLER. v

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 23. 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NO MODEL.

Patented' August 30, 1904,

'UNrTnn STaTns PATENT Orrrcie.

MARTIN O. DOLSON, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

TROLLEY-POLE CONTROLLER.

SQECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 768,789, dated August 30, 1904.

Application filed Becemoer 23, 1903. Serial No. 186,371. No model.)

To a/ZZ 1071/0777, it may concern:

Be it known that 1. MARTIN O. DoLsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Ang'eles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Trolley-Pole Controller, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to that class of controllers which are pneumatically operated.

One object of the invention is to provide a positive mechanical means for controlling the pnleumatic means which raises or lowers the po e.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described which when the trolley has been lowered is positively controlled by the trolley-rope alone to operate and lift the trolley-pole into position and bring the trolley against the wire.

Other objects of the invention are to produceadevice of the character described which is simple in construction, eifective in operation, and durable in use.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description.

The accompanying' drawings illustrate the invention, and, referring to the same, Figure I is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the device, the trolley-pole being' shown in its elevated positionV with the trolley resting against the wire. Eig. I1 is a view similar' to Fig. l, showing the trolley-pole depressed. Fig 1H is a detail view looking toward the end of the tripping device. Fig. 1V is a side elevation of the upper portion of the trolley-pole, showing the tripping device attached thereto. Fig. V is a section through the knuckle-joint of the tripping device. Fig. V1 is a plan view of what is shown in Fig. Il. Fig. VH is a perspective of the upper end of the trolley-pole, showing the trolley oif the wire. Fig. VIII is a section through the socket, which receives the trolley-pole. Eig. 1X is a detail in plan, showing the spring' and adjacent parts. Fig. X is a side elevation of the split sleeve.

1 designates a base which is bolted to the top of the car. (Not shown.) The base 1 has a central upwardly-projecting boss 2 and is drilled centrally.

3 designates a revoluble table which has a cupped portion 4, which rests upon the upper part of the base 1, the boss 2 passing therethrough, there being a ball-bearing' 5 provided between the base 1 and the lower part of the cupped portion 4. The table 3 is held in position on the basel by an annular nut 6, screwed to the upper part of the boss 2, there being' a set-screw provided, as shown,to prevent displaceinent of the nut. An air-cylinder 7 is mounted on one end Iof the table 3 and is provided with a piston 8 and piston-rod 9, there being' bui'l'ers 1() in each end of the cylinder, which consist of coil-springs, as shown. A valve-chest 11 is provided, and passages 12 and 13 lead from the respective ends of the cylinder to the valve-chamber. A valve 14 is provided within the valve-chamber, which has a central passage 15, which is adapted to be moved into communication with either the passage 12 or the passage 13, according as the valve is shifted. The valve is also provided with recesses 16 and 17, and the valve-chest is provided with outletpassages 18 and 19, respectively. The passage 12 is adapted to be placed in communication with the outlet 18 by the recess 16 when the valve is shifted to one position, while the passage 13 is adapted to be' brought into communication with the outlet-passage 19 by means of the recess 17 when the valve is shifted to the other position.v In order to limitv the throw of the valve, it is provided with adjustable screw-stops 20, which are held from displacement by means of set-nuts, as shown. The valve-stein 21 extends through the wall of the valve-chest, there being a suitable gland 22 provided.

Extending up through the center of the base 1 is an air-pi pe 2B, 'which is in communication with the compressed-air supply on the car, and immediately above the boss 2 it is connected by a swivel-coupling 24- with an elbow 25, and leading from the elbow is a pipe 26, which communicates with the valvechest, as shown. The pipe 23 is stationary,

but the swivel-coupling 24 allows the table 3 to be turned about the basel. c

27 is al standard mounted upon the table 3 and supports the piston-rod 9 and valve-stem IOO 21. 28 is another standardmounted upon the table 3, to which is pivoted, as at 2), a lever 30, The lever 8O is provided with a socket 31, which receives the lower end oi the trolley-pole 32, and the lower end of the lever 30 is connected with the end ot the piston-rod 9 by a link The block 34, which extends up from the table 3, supports a guiderod 35, there being a cross-bar 3b' slidably mounted on the guiderod 35, which is connected by rods 37 with the lower end of the lever 3l) there being a (See Figs. lll and Vl l.) The lower part ot' the trip-lever 42 has an eye 47 for the attachment of the trolley-rope 48. The knuckles 41 are recessed to receive a spring c, which yieldingly holds the arms outstretched, as shown. Each wing' 43 is provided with a slit which gives a spring' to the wings and causes them to tightly squeeze the trip-lever.

49 is a rock-arm pivoted at 50 to the upper end of the lever 80. The lower end of the rock-arm. 49 is connected by a rod or wire 51 with the arm 46 and also is connected with the valve-stem 21 by a short rod 52 and a turnbuckle 53, the end of the valve-stem 21 and rod 25 havingl right and left threads, re-

spectively, so that the turnbuchle 53 may be adjusted to g'ive the requisite length ot' conl outstretched so as to catch the trolley-wire nection between the rock-arm 49 and the valve 14. Suitable eyelets 54 are provided along the trolley-pole 'for supporting and guiding' the wire 51.

In operation air issupplied through the coni nectmg-pipes 23 and 26 to the valvechest 11,

and when the valve 14 is shifted to the let't the compressed air enters through the passages 15 and 12 into the cylinder 7 at the lett of the piston 8, ,which holds the piston 8 toward the right, as shown in Fig. 1, thus holding' the trolley-pole elevated with the trolley against the wire, as shown. The valve is limited in its throw by the stops 20, and when it is the position shownin Fig. l the lower pivot of the rock-arm 49 is exactly concentric with the pivot 29, so that the oscillating movement oit' the trolley-pole caused by the travel of the trolley over the varying elevation ot' the trolley-wire does not act to shift the valve 14. Thus the trolley is held against the wire by the pressure of the air behind the piston, which, however, is supplemented by the power ot' the spring 88.

`When the trolley jumps from the wire accidentally, it liies upward somewhat owing to the pressure ot' the air behind the piston and spring 88, and one or the other o1 the arms 40 is suddenly brought into contact with the trolley-wire, which results in tilting the triplevel' 42 and drawing upon the rod 51, which throws the rock-arm 49 in to the position shown in Fig. ll. and through the medium of the betore-described connections shitting the valve 14 to the right, as shown in Fig. 1I, which immediately places the space at the left ot' the piston into communication with the outlet 18 through the medium ot the passage 12 and recess 16, and simultaneously compressed air is admitted to the right otl the piston through the passages 15 and 13, whereupon the piston 8 is moved toward the left of the cylinder and the trolley-pole is depressed and brought into substantially a horizontal position through the medium ot' the connections before described. Thus the trolley-pole is instantly depressed i as soon as it tlies oil from the wire, which prevents accidents caused by violent banging of the trolley-pole or trolley-wheel or hitting against span-wires, bridges, or other overhead structures.

The length ot' the arms 40 is sufficient to enable them to catch against the trolley-wire when the trolley iiies up, and as the trolley moves but a slight distance sidewise from the wire one or the other ot' the arms 40 will always eatch against the wire and trip the valve. The spring a is sutliciently stil' to hold the arms 4() outstretched normally, but will yield to allow the arms to fall back should one or the other ot' the arms strike a switch, frog, or other obstruction in the overhead structure contiguous the trolley-wire, so that although the arms 40 are normally spread apart and when the pole Vliies up they will readily spring back to pass any obstruction, thus preventing any damage to the tripping device or permanent overhead structure.

When the pole is to be elevated again to the wire, it is done by pulling on the rope 48, which will positively tilt the trip-lever 42 from the position shown in Fig. Il into the position shown in Fig. l, which will shift the valve 14 to the left ot' the valve-chest and admit air to the leit of the piston and exhaust the air from the right ot' the piston, so that the piston will be moved to the right of the cylinder and will elevate the trolley pole, the trolley being guided onto the wire by manipulation of the rope, as is usual in placing the ordinary style ot trolley-pole and trolley in position.

The trolley may be withdrawn from the wire and the pole depressed at any time when desired by simply pulling on the rope 48 and I then easing up on the rope and guiding the trolley by the wire so that one or the other ot' the arms 40 will hit the wire and tilt the trip- IOO IOS

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lever, which will, as before described, depress the pole. Obviously in tinding the wire the rope is held taut and the trip-lever held tilted, so that even thoug'h one of the arms t() should hit the wire the valve will not be shifted, but the power will be maintained to push the pole upwardly.

The springs 10 act as bu'tfers to cushion the stroke of the piston at its termination ot' throw, so that violent shock to the parts of the device is avoided. The ball-bearings 5 permit or' an easy movement of the table 3 and the parts which it carries around the base 1, and thus the trolley is prevented from flying from the wire as frequently as would be the case it' the action or' the table 3 was performed more stitlly. The wings 43 squeeze the trip-lever between t-hem, so that the triplever is frictionally held in veither ot' its positions. creeping' out ot position and moves only when the rope is pulled upon or when one ot the arms AO strikes the wire.

1. A trolley-pole, means for moving' the pole, a trip-lever on the pole and connected ing' from the trip-lever for engaging the trolley-wire and tilting the trip-lever.

with the moving means, and an arm on the trip-lever for engaging the trolley-wire and tilting the trip-lever.

3. A trolley-pole, means for moving' the pole, a trip-lever on thepole and connected with the moving means, and arms projecting laterally from the trip-lever tor engaging the trolley-wire and tilting the trip-lever.

4. A trolley-pole, means for moving the pole, a trip-lever on the pole and connected with the moving means, a pair of arms pivoted to the trip-lever, and means tor yieldingly holding' the arms extended from opposite sides of the trip-lever.

5. A trolley-pole, means for moving the pole, a trip-lever on the pole and connected with the moving means, a pair of arms having lapped knuckles pivoted to the trip-lever, the knuckles being recessed, and a spring lying' within the recessses and engaging said arms for holding the arms extended.

6. A trolleypole, pneumatic means Jfor moving the pole, a trip-lever on the pole and connected with the moving means, and means projecting from the trip-lever for engaging the trolley-wire and tilting' the trip-lever.

7. A trolley -pole, pneumatic means for moving the pole, a trip-lever on the pole and connected with the moving' means, and an arm on the trip-lever tor engaging the trolleywire and tilting the trip-lever.

8. A trolley-pole, pneumatic means for moving the pole, a trip-lever on the pole and It is thus prevented Atrom jarring or connected with the moving' means, and arms projecting' laterally from the trip-lever for engaging' the trolley-wire and tiltingl the triplever.

9. A trolley-pole, pneumatic means 'for moving the pole, a trip-lever on the pole and connected with the moving means, a pair otI arms pivoted to the trip-lever, and means for yieldingly holding the arms extended from opposite sides ot' the trip-lever.

10. A trolley-pole, pneumatic means for moving the pole, a trip-lever on the pole and -connected with the moving' means, a pair of arms having' lapped knuckles pivoted to the trip-lever, the knuckles being' recessed, and a spring' lying' within the recesses and engag'ing said arms for holding' the arms extended.

11. A trolley-pole, pneumatic means for raising' and lowering' the pole` a trip-lever on the pole and connected with the moving means, and means projecting from the trip-lever for engag'ing the trolley-wire and tilting the triplever.

12. A trolley-pole, pneumatic means for l raising' and lowering' the pole. a trip-lever on the pole and connected with the moving means, with the moving' means, and means projcctand an arm on the trip-lever for engaging the trolley-wire and tilting' the trip-lever.

13. A trolley-pole, pneumatic means for raising' and lowering' the pole, a trip-lever on the pole and connected with the moving means, and arms projecting laterally from the triplever for engaging the trolley-wire and tilting the trip-lever,

le. A trolley-pole, pneumatic means for raising' and lowering the pole, a trip-lever on the pole and connected with the moving' means, a pair or' arms pivoted to the trip-lever, and means for yieldingly holding the arms extended from opposite sides ot' the trip-lever.

15. A trolley-pole, pneumatic means for raising and lowering' the pole, a trip-lever on the pole and connected with the moving means, a pair o'tl arms having lapped knuckles pivoted to the trip-lever, the knuckles being recessed, and a spring lying within the recesses and engag'ing' said arms for holding the arms eX- tended.

16. A trolley-pole, a split sleeve thereon, wing's projecting from the split sleeve, a triplever pivoted to the wings, an eye on the lower end of the trip-lever, and means projecting from the other end of the trip-lever for engaging with the trolley-wire.

17. A trolley-pole, means tor moving' the pole, a trip-lever pivoted to the pole, means projecting from the trip-lever for engaging the trolley-wire, an arm projecting from the trip-lever, and a connection from the arm to the moving means. Y

18. In combination, a trolley-pole, a cylinder, a piston therein connected to the trolleypole, a valve for controlling the admission of compressed air to either side of the piston, a

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trip-lever on the pole, an arm projecting from the trip-lever, and a rod connecting the arm and valve.

19. In combination, a cylinder, a piston therein connected to the trolley-pole, a valve for controlling the admission ot' compressed air to either side of the piston, a standard, a trolley-pole, a lever carrying the same and pivoted to the standard, a connection from the trolley-pole to the piston, a rock-arm pivoted to the lever eccentric of the pivot of the trolley-pole, a trip-lever pivotcd to the trolleypole, a rod connecting the trip-lever and rocklever being attached to the latter at a point the arc of movement of which intersects the pivotal axis of the trolley-pole.

20. In combination, a base, a table revolubly mounted on the base, a standard on the table, a trolley-pole pivoted to the standard, a cylinder, a piston therein connected with the piston-rod, a valve for controlling the admission of compressed air to either side olf the piston, a trip-lever on the trolley-pole, a connection from the trip-lever to the valve, and means projecting from the trip-lever for engaging the trolley-wire. I

21. ln combination, a cylinder, a piston therein, a pivoted trolley-pole, a connection from the trolley-pole to the piston, a valvechest, a valve therein, adjustableA stops for limiting the throvwotl the valve, a trip-lever on the pole, and a connection from the triplever to the valve.

22. 1n combination, a cylinder, a piston therein, a pivoted trolley-pole, a connection from the piston to the trolley-pole, a valve for controlling the admission of compressed air to the cylinder, a pivoted rock-arm, a valvestem on the valve, a rod connected to the rockarm, said stem and rod having right and left threads, a turnbuckle engaging the threaded portions, a trip-lever on the pole, a rod connecting the trip-lever and rock-arm, and means projecting from the trip-lever1 for engaging the trolley-wire.

23. In combination, a base having' a boss, a table revolubly mounted on the boss, an annular nut screwed to the boss above the table, a set-screw for the nut, a cylinder on the table, a piston therein, a valve-chest for the cylinder, an air-pipe extending up through the base, another pipe connected to the lirst pipe with a swivel-joint and leading to the valve-chest, a valve in the chest, a standard on the table, a trolley-pole pivoted to the standard, a piston-rod, avalve-stem, a guide for the piston-rod and valve-stem, a link connecting` the piston-rod and trolley-pole, a rockarm pivoted to the standard, an adjustable connection from the rock-arm to the valvestem, a trip-lever on the trolley-pole, an arm projecting from the trip-lever, a rod connecting the latter arm and said rock-arm, and means projecting from the trip-lever for engaging' the trolley-wire.

24. A trip-lever, a pair of arms pivoted thereto, means for yielding-ly holding the arms outstretched, the outer ends of the arms being bent.

25. In combination, a table, a standard thereon, a trolley-pole pivoted to the standard. pneumatic means for raising and lowering the pole, a block on the table, a guide-rod on the block, across-bar slidable on the block, a spring between the cross-bar and the block, rods connecting the cross-bar and trolleypole, a trip-lever on the pole, means projecting from the trip-lever for engaging the trolley-wire, and means connecting the trip-lever and pneumatic means for controlling the latter.

In testimony whereoitl l have hereunto signed my name, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State or' California, this 11th day of December, 1903.

MARTIN O. DOLSON.

Witnesses GEORGE T. HACKLEY, JULIA TowNsnND. 

